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Inter-fastigial projections along the roof of the fourth ventricle

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Abstract

The fastigial nucleus (FN) is a bilateral cerebellar integrative center for saccadic and vestibular control associated with non-motor functions such as feeding and cardiovascular regulation. In a previous study, we identified a tract of myelinated axons embedded in the subventricular zone (SVZ) that is located between the ependymal cells that form the dorsal wall of the ventricle and the glia limitans at the roof of the fourth ventricle González-González (Sci Rep 2017, 7:40768). Here, we show that this tract of axons, named subventricular axons or SVa, contains projection neurons that bilaterally interconnect both FNs. The approach consisted of the use of a battery of fluorescent neuronal tracers, transgenic mouse lines, and immunohistofluorescence. Our observations show that the SVa belong to a wide network of GABAergic projection neurons mainly located in the medial and caudal region of the FN. The SVa should be considered a part of a continuum of the cerebellar white matter that follows an alternative pathway through the SVZ, a region closely associated with the physiology of the fourth ventricle. This finding adds to our understanding of the complex organization of the FN; however, the function of the interconnection remains to be elucidated.

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Abbreviations

BG:

Bergmann glia

Cb:

Cerebellum

CFS:

Cerebrospinal fluid

DC:

Dorsal cochlear nu

ECs:

Ependymal cells

ECL:

Ependymal cell layer

FG:

Fluro-gold

Fl:

Flocculus

FN:

Fastigial nucleus

FR:

Fluoro-ruby

GiA:

Gigantocellular nu

icp:

Inferior cerebellar peduncle

IntA:

Anterior interpositus

LVe:

Lateral vestibular nu

LPGi:

Lateral paragigantocellular nu

Med:

Medial (fastigial) nu

MVePc:

Medial vestibular nu (parvocellular)

MVeMC:

Medial vestibular nu (magnocellular)

nu:

Nucleus

Pc:

Purkinje cell

pcn:

Precentral fissure, cerebellum

PnC:

Pontine reticular nu

Pr:

Prepositus hypoglossal nu

py:

Pyramidal tract

P7:

Prefacial zone

SpVe:

Spinal vestibular nu

Sp5:

Spinal trigeminal tract

SuVe:

Superior vestibular nu

SVa:

Subventricular axons

SVCC:

Subventricular cellular cluster

Unc:

Uncinate fasciculus

VCP:

Ventral cochlear posterior nu

VeCb:

Vestibulocerebellar nu

VMC:

Ventromedial cord

X:

Cerebellar lobule ten

x:

X nu

I:

Cerebellar lobule one

4 V:

Fourth ventricle

7 N:

Facial nu

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Acknowledgements

This project was supported by grants from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACyT) (A1S7659) and Programa de Apoyo a Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica (PAPIIT-DGAPA) (IN204520) to AMT. GBGG is a doctoral student from Programa de Doctorado en Ciencias Biomédicas, at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), and was supported by CONACyT fellowship 277694. For the kindly donation of mice and materials, we thank Dr. Annalisa Buffo (NICO Institute-Italy), M. Condés-Lara and G. Rojas Piloni (Instituto de Neurobiología-INB, UNAM, Mexico), and H. Kettenmann (MDC-Berlin). We thank Dr. D. Escalante (IFC-UNAM) and R. Arellano (INB-UNAM) for suggestions and feedback. We thank the INB-Core Facilities for their technical support: unit of Microscopy (L. Palma-Tirado, E. N. Hernández-Ríos), and animal facility (A. Castilla-Leon, M. García-Servin, M.A. Carbajo). We also appreciate the technical backing of G. Martinez-Lorenzana, R. Olivares-Moreno and A.E. Espino Saldaña; the input and manuscript editing by M.A. González-González; and the English grammar editing by Dr. M. C. Jeziorski and J. G. Norris.

Funding

Funding provided to Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (MX): 277694; Dirección General de Asuntos del Personal Académico, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México: IN204520; Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (MX): A1S7659.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Neurobiology, Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Campus UNAM-Juriquilla, Querétaro, México

    Gabriela B. Gómez-González & Ataúlfo Martínez-Torres

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  1. Gabriela B. Gómez-González
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  2. Ataúlfo Martínez-Torres
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GBGG conducted the experiments. AMT and GBGG designed the work, analyzed data, and wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Ataúlfo Martínez-Torres.

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All experiments were designed to prevent animal suffering and discomfort at any moment. The animal protocol (INEU/SA/CB089) was approved by the Institutional Bioethics Committee of the Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, in accordance with national (NOM-062-ZOO-1999) and international guidelines (National Institutes of Health, USA).

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Gómez-González, G.B., Martínez-Torres, A. Inter-fastigial projections along the roof of the fourth ventricle. Brain Struct Funct 226, 901–917 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-021-02217-8

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